Direct prenatal cost in primary health care

Abstract

Primary Care has as a fundamental role health prevention at all stages of life. Thus, several programs are offered that favor the realization of actions. Prenatal care is a great example, as pregnant women are monitored from conception to the postpartum period. Means are offered to detect, as early as possible, any morbidity in the pregnant woman or fetus, through laboratory and imaging tests, rapid tests, medical and nursing consultations, dental care, in addition to immunizations offered to pregnant women. These services are provided by SUS and have costs which are unknown to the population and many health professionals. The research aimed to know the direct cost of performing prenatal care in a Basic Health Unit of the Primary Health Care Network in western Santa Catarina, through an exploratory, retrospective study, with a descriptive theme and a quantitative nature. A sample of six (6) months was used, and in the studied institution, according to information collected in electronic medical records, twenty-seven (27) pregnant women were assisted during this period. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, nineteen (19) pregnant women were investigated. It was found that during the 9 gestational months a total of R$3,494.35 were invested, with a unit value per pregnant woman of R$183.91. The values ​​in the table of the Unified Health System (SUS) and in the Management System of the Table of Procedures, Medications, SUS OPM (SIG TAP) of the Ministry of Health were considered. Some items evaluated did not appear in the tables in resulting from the agreement that exists between the spheres. Due to the study, it was possible to know the direct cost of prenatal care in the studied institution, an essential tool for the realization of a more efficient management of public resources by the municipality, as well as promoting greater appreciation by society of this assistance that is offered “at no cost” to the user.